Paper-fastener.



786,563, PATENTED APR. 4, 1905.

J. S. HINES.

PAPER FASTENER. APPLICATION 3mm) MAY 31, 1904.

. 957x60 ciL/ iz 'zz ed UNITED STATES Patented April 4, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

PAPER-FASTENER- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 786,563, dated April 4, 1905. Application filed May 31, 190A. Serial No. 210,537.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMEs S. HINES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Macon, in the county of Bibb and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Paper-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to paper-fasteners; and while I do not limit myself to the incorporation of the improvements in any particular style of fastener I have found the same particularly advantageous in connection with those fasteners employed for filing away papers, documents, and similar-things. A fastener of such type includes a pair of fastening members adapted for separation from each other in order to hold the paper filed, such members being usually made of resilient or bendable material. The tips of these resilient members are generally sharpened or pointed to facilitate their penetration of paper. It is well known that after a paper has been put away upon a file provided with fasteners of the kind described and the members or branches of each fastener have been separated from each other by being .bent back or flattened down against a paper it is a time-requiring and difiicult matter to straighten them or to bring them into proper working relation for the application of a second paper or other papers. Even the placing of papers on such fasteners separates the branches or members thereof-that is to say, the simple act of filing away a paper spreads the branches of the fastener. To overcome the defect indicated, I provide a paper-fastener including a pair of cooperating fastening members separable from each other and means for normally preventing the separation of said members. In the present instance I secure the advantageous result by interlocking means associated with said members, so that when the latter are resilient and are bent down to engage a paper they can be subsequently brought together and positivelymaintained in working relation or straight in order to assure the quick and ready filing of papers.

It will be understood that I do not limit myself to the use of any particular style of fastener, I having simply stated that the improvements are adapted to a certain type or to those kinds known as McGill and Bainbridge fasteners.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification I have illustrated one simple adaptation of the invention in connection with a well-known form of fastener; but I do not limit myself to the showing thus made nor, as will be gathered from the initial statements, to the association of the invention with any particular kind of fastener.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fastener, showing the branches or members thereof in Working relation, in which they are maintained positively by means including the invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view, the branches or members of the fastener being separated. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation taken just below the interlocking means combined with the prongs of a fastener looking toward the tips of said prongs.

Like characters refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

In the drawings I have represented a paperfastener of familiar construction, the same being denoted in a general way by 5, and a detailed description of the same is not necessary except so far as to state that the fastener represented includes in its construction a head, as 6, which when the fastener is used in a file constitutes the base thereof and from which upon the inner side thereof centrally project the two branches 7, adapted when in working relation to approximately abut face to face. These branches are sharpened or pointed at their tips to present barbs to assure their ready penetration of papers. The branches or prongs 7 and the head 6 are usually rnade integral and from some resilient or readily bendable material, whereby the branches 7 can be separated from each other and flattened down against a paper or pile of papers, through which the shanks of the branches or barbs 7 extend. WVhen once the branches 7 have been separated and when they are long, they sometimes spread apart a dis-- tance equaling half an inch, or substantially so, so that before papers can be filed thereon it is necessary to bring the branches together at least at their tips or pointed ends. This requires time and labor. In some cases it is necessary to place one fastener through one side of a paper and then put another fastener through the other side of the paper. By my invention I normally maintain the branches of the fastener in working relation or straight, so that it is not necessary to bring them together in filing papers. The branches, however, in the present instance are held together in such manner that they can when occasion requires be readily separated in order to bend down the same against the papers filed away, and they can be brought together and reinterlocked to secure the advantage set forth. I have shown a simple means for obtaining the novel function set forth and will now describe the same.

Upon each branch or barb 7 of the fastener, near the tip or pointed end thereof, is provided a hook-like projection or protruberanee, as 8. 1 preferably form these projections near the tips of the respective parts, as it is desirable to hold them interlocked at such place in order that the extreme pointed ends of the barbs may be held together as closely as possible, thereby to prevent the formation of large punctures or possible tears in the papers to be filed away. Normally the projections 8 engage each other, whereby the branches or barbs 7 will be held absolutely in working relation or perpendicular, or substantially so, of their head 6. When in this relation, it will be obvious that papers can be filed away with rapidity. hen it becomes necessary to positively fasten the papers in place upon the file, it is only necessary to laterally move the two branches 7 a sufficient distance to carry the projections 8 out of disengagement, at which time the said branches are free to be bent downward against a paper or pile of papers, through which they extend. Ordinarily the projections 8 are made integral with the respective branches 7, so that the improved fastener, as will be obvious, can be produced at a comparatively low cost. When the projections 8 interlock or engage with each other, it will be obvious that the branches 7 are held together in a positive and firm manner and against separation under normal conditions. They may, as previously set forth, be readily separated and. by a very slight movement. After the branches 7 are bent down and it is necessary to restore them to their initial positions they will be brought together until they nearly meet, after which they will be laterally separated, so that when brought approximately together one projection 8 will be in position to engage with the other or to enter the space between said other projection and the shank of the cooperating branch 7 in order to maintain the branches in their operative positions. In bringing the branches or prongs of the fasteners to their initial position this operation can be readily and easily performed with the thumb and forefinger, and said branches or prongs can be as readily separated.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the annexed drawings, that my paper-fastener includes a pair of cooperating fastening members and means for positively holding said fasteners in working relation to simultaneously extend through an object and for permitting the separation of said members without destroying their original identity.

The parts above mentioned may be of any desirable character.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A paper-fastener including a pair of cooperating fastening members, and means for positively holding said fastening members in working relation to simultaneously extend through an object, one of said fastening members being laterally movable to cause its release from said holding means, and its movement toward an object-securing position.

2. A paper-fastener including a pair of cooperating fastening members, at least one of which has a hook-like projection to engage a part of the other and to hold them both in position to simultaneously extend through an object.

3. A paper-fastener including a pair of cooperating resilient fastening members, and means for positively holding said members normally in position to simultaneously extend through an object and for permitting their separation without destroying their original identity.

4. A paper-fastener including a pair of cooperating fastening members, and means for positively holding said fastening'members in working relation to simultaneously extend through an object and for permitting the separation of said members without destroying their original identity.

5. A paper-fastener including a pair of cooperating resilient members, each having a projection near the tip thereof, said projections being interlockable to hold the resilient members substantially together and to cause them to simultaneously extend through an object.

6. A paper-fastener including a pair of cooperating and pointed resilient fastening members, each having a projection near the pointed end thereof, the projections being interlockable.

7. A paper-fastener including a pair of co- IIO operatingresilient fastening members, atleast my hand in presence of two subscribing Witone of which is pointed, and at least one of nesses. which has a hook-like projection to engage a part of the other to hold the members in 190- JAMES HINES' v sition to simultaneously extend through an ob- Witnesses:

ject. R. K. HINES,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set M. R. FREEMAN. 

